UFC: An ESPN Love Affair and 10 Things We'd Love to See but Never Will

The UFC has been the forefront for mixed martial arts in the United States for the past 15 years.  It's no secret.

It has transformed the views of even the most simple-minded of fans, allowing average combat followers the opportunity to learn exactly what goes on inside the cage.

Key figures like Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Anderson Silva and Brock Lesnar have enabled the UFC to counter-balance popularity with sheer greatness.

And as we approach an event horizon that could ultimately lead to MMA becoming the most relevant sport worldwide, the UFC's role in commanding this ship will grow exponentially.

But as much as we've seen, and hope to see in the coming years, there are some occurrences that deem more artificial than realistic.

Here are the top 10 things we'd love to see, but more than likely never will.

10. A Michael McDonald Title Shot This Year

This is more or less a tribute to one of my favorite fighters than a distinct correlation between something we want to see but never will.

Michael McDonald has become one of the most successful MMA fighters in the world. 

He's by far one of the most powerful bantamweights in the UFC today, and is accomplishing all of these career feats at the young age of 21.

On top of possessing one-punch KO power, McDonald has won all three of his UFC fights.

At this point, you'd think he deserves a title shot.  Heck, how could you disagree?

But the fact of the matter is that the UFC has continuously tried to push Urijah Faber as the lone divisional contender since they merged with the WEC's smaller weight classes.

Fighters like McDonald aren't going to receive championship opportunities in the foreseeable future. 

The UFC has already scheduled another lengthy edition of The Ultimate Fighter featuring Faber and bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz as coaches.

If Faber wins their eventual title bout, there's no doubt in my mind Cruz would get an instant rematch.

While that bodes well for both Faber and Cruz, financially and competitively, it leaves young prospects like McDonald in the dust.

(Sorry for the lengthy explanation)

9. Carlos Condit Knocking out Nick Diaz

Even though it's more or less a rumor, meaning no contract has been signed, Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz are scheduled for a welterweight rematch sometime in the near future.

Condit recently secured a unanimous decision over Diaz at UFC 143 en route to winning the UFC interim title.  Condit looked pretty good against Diaz, who has continuously been considered one of the top pound-for-pound strikers in the world, if not the most well-rounded.

During their first bout, Condit out-struck Diaz 151-105, often leaving the Californian frustrated and unable to land punches in bunches like he usually does.

But regardless of their first fight, does Condit have what it takes not only to beat Diaz the second time around, but to land a vicious KO?

While most of us would like to see that happen, it seems difficult to picture Diaz hitting the mat against Condit.

Whether it goes another five rounds or somebody ends it within the first three, Diaz's chin and sheer will should prove too worthy against Condit's powerful hands.

8. Jon Jones in the Heavyweight Division

It's about time to start thinking of ways to make Jon Jones' fights more competitive.

The guy has just straight-up dismantled the light heavyweight division over the past 12 months. 

Victories over Ryan Bader, Rampage Jackson, Shogun Rua and Lyoto Machida provide enough proof that even the "who's who" of championship contenders doesn't make the 24-year-old nervous.

So what's next?

Should Jones move up to the heavyweight division like Anderson Silva did when he went from 185 to 205?

Possibly, but don't count on it. 

Remember, like I previously mentioned, Jones is only 24.  His career in the light heavyweight division is just beginning, even though he has beaten everyone there is to beat.

His popularity and promotional appeal are way too important to the UFC for them to move him up a weight class and dangle him in front of destructive forces like Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem.

And while either one of those fights could be the greatest Octagon experience in my lifetime, Jones' comfy championship position remains within the 205-pound division.

7. Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard IV

Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard have provided UFC fans with some of the best Octagon action ever, just within the past year.

From Maynard hooks to Edgar jabs, their nine rounds of championship determination deserve to be called epic.

But when exactly is it time to shake things up?

Presumably, now. 

Benson Henderson is already scheduled to take on Edgar at UFC 144 in Japan, and with lightweight contenders Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Clay Guida, Anthony Pettis and Melvin Guillard on deck, it may be a while before Maynard gets a well-deserved rematch.

As much as we'd love to see it, don't count on it.  Maynard has to wait his turn, again.

6. Rampage Jackson Fighting Beyond 2012

There has been much speculation as to what exactly Rampage Jackson has planned for in 2013.

Whether it's his movie career or his recent love with the idea of becoming a professional boxer, Jackson is ready to play his cards right when his UFC contract expires this year.

Can you blame him for entertaining the thought of retiring?

Not really.  He's healthy, rich, on top of his game, and talented enough to make a career elsewhere.

Also considering he is quickly falling behind other light heavyweights waiting in line for a Jon Jones title shot, one of the most popular fighters of all time may consider calling it quits.

Whether or not you agree with his decision, it sure looks like Jackson is willing to give up his MMA career and leave UFC fans wanting more.

5. Brock Lesnar on FOX

This is pretty self-explanatory.  Seeing Brock Lesnar fight on FOX would simply be one of the most awesome things I could ever witness.

Beyond the promotional aspects of the fight, along with the hype, just seeing the big fella get buck wild in the Octagon on national television would get me throwing right hooks in the air like I never have before.

But, as nearly everyone in the world of MMA knows, Lesnar is no longer gracing us with his lumberjack ways.

He has decided to call it quits, live in the woods with his wife, Sable, hunt six days a week, and possibly launch a WWE comeback.

So where does that leave UFC fans?

Sitting here putting Lesnar's name on a list of things that will never happen.  That's where it leaves us.

Thanks, Brock.  Or should I say Alistair.

4. Kenny Florian Winning Some Gold

I cannot stress how much I want Kenny Florian to win a UFC championship.

Beyond being my favorite fighter of all time, Florian flat-out deserves it.

He's humble, hard-working, and has all the skills in the world to overcome the lack of KO power.  But to fully understand how much the 35-year-old really deserves to be considered the best of the best, you have to realize his path and history with bad luck.

Florian has competed for a title on three different occasions.  Two times for the lightweight championship, against BJ Penn and Sean Sherk, and most recently his bout with pound-for-pound great Jose Aldo for featherweight supremacy.

It's difficult to picture exactly how rough Florian's path has been.  Despite world-class skills and unmatched determination, he has simply never caught his break.

Florian has tested the waters in four different weight classes, dating back to his time on The Ultimate Fighter as a chubby middleweight.

Now dealing with what many consider a career-threatening back injury, Florian not only has to battle Father Time, but his health.

One of the most unspoken, down-to-earth fighters around, Florian will seemingly have only one more shot to capture UFC gold over the next two years.

And with the competition in the lightweight division growing deeper by the day, that seems utterly impossible.

3. Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre

This is arguably the most anticipated MMA fight of all time.

Anderson Silva will no doubt go down as the greatest fighter ever, and Georges St. Pierre isn't too far behind.

But with Silva seemingly entering the back end of his career, alongside an injury-riddled St. Pierre, this fight is currently the furthest thing from reality.

And considering the UFC wants to promote each and every PPV event to the maximum, it would make sense for them to ride the in-division dominance that each of these fighters possess.

Not for nothing, but when healthy, they're the top two fighters in the world.

2. Fedor Emelianenko in the Octagon

It seems like forever since Fedor Emelianenko was considered the greatest MMA heavyweight in the world.

Emelianenko has fallen off the map since his departures from PRIDE and Strikeforce, making it even more impossible that he would make a mainstream return within an organization as big as the UFC.

But wouldn't it be amazing? 

Fedor in the UFC.  The UFC heavyweight division at the hands of one of the most dangerous fighters of all time.

Emelianenko in the UFC is too far off to think about it now.  But if for some reason Dana White and company see something wrong with the heavyweight division, such as Alistair Overeem possibly not panning out, they could end up reaching out to an irrelevant Fedor.

1. UFC Getting Along with ESPN

There would be nothing more satisfying than seeing the UFC and ESPN come to a mutual agreement in order to promote the sport of mixed martial arts successfully in America.

ESPN is obviously the gateway to sports in the United States, and arguably around the world, so anything they do to squeeze the UFC out of the scene makes the sport's chances of reaching a larger audience that much smaller.

From not giving enough attention to PPV events that are extremely important to the maturation of the UFC in America to slanting interviews on ESPN investigator shows in order to take advantage of the UFC through their own popularity and mainstream effectiveness, ESPN just doesn't seem to like MMA.

Chalk it up to ESPN not being a monetary partner with the UFC like FOX is, or blame it on the sport juggernaut's relationship with boxing and it's need to preserve that particular sport in order to gain revenue.

Whatever it is, the two naturally don't get along.  Like cats and dogs.  Or Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.

At this point, for the UFC's sake, shaking hands with the biggest sports handler in the world may be the smart thing to do.  That could mean offering the network some worthwhile fights or simply paying them some money to air highlights and replays on SportsCenter.

But even though we'd love to see it, all of it, some things are better left alone.

For more UFC/MMA news and coverage, Follow @DHiergesell